Target Breach: Hensarling Rep Mum on Hearings

A spokesperson for the House Financial Services Committee would not say if the committee plans to examine the Target data breach, which has affected more than 70 million Americans.

Credit Union Times asked David Popp, committee communications director for Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), if the key House committee plans to call someone from Target to testify at a hearing about the breach. Democratic members of the committee asked Hensarling Jan. 10 to hold a full committee hearing on the breach.

Popp responded with a statement from Hensarling that mentions the committee’s intent to hold future data security hearings.

“Americans have a right to expect that the personal information they turn over to private companies and government agencies will be protected and kept secure from loss, unauthorized access or misuse. This is increasingly important as more companies and more government agencies in Washington such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of Financial Research collect and stockpile massive amounts of private, confidential information about Americans,” Hensarling said in the statement.

The statement also said the committee has held, and will continue to hold, hearings on the security of information collected by federal agencies and financial institutions. Hensarling also said the committee will keep pressing for accountability among all entities that collect personal consumer data.

When asked again if any upcoming data security hearings would specifically investigate the Target breach, Popp did not respond.

Both NAFCU and CUNA have written letters to the House and Senate leadership requesting hearings on the Target security situation.